Dated Images

4th July 1911 Marching Band in Keene NH

Proudly marching down the main street of Keene, New Hampshire, this band was probably one of several participating in the annual Independence Day parade in 1911. The gentlemen wear a fairly simple uniform with dark pants and a straight-cut coat with simple trim along the edges, and conductor-style billed caps.

Behind them on the left we can just see the over-decorated wide brimmed hat of a well dressed lady from that period, while to the right are several boys wearing knickerbockers — a baggy version of knee-breeches gathered just below the knee where they meet the long dark stockings. Some are wearing suit coats over those, and even those that aren’t seem to have long sleeves, even though it is July.

A couple men to the right have the flat-topped straw hats called boaters, with their broad contrasting dark grosgrain or silk hat bands.

Besides the ubiquitous American flags, several people have large dark umbrellas for shade from the bright sun, which is above, behind and to the left of the photographer.

George Thays with 3 Daughters and one Son, Wisconsin 1914

Here we have a real-photo postcard (RPPC) showing George Thays and his children. The identification is printed on the back of the card, which also shows a stamp-box, which we can date to the 1907-1929 period. Notice the big hair ribbon bows at the back of the head for Viola and Fern, while Esther wears a smaller one, off to one side.

A quick look at the census shows us George and his wife Bertha living in Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, with these children in 1910, though son George is incorrectly listed as four year old daughter Georgia. By the time this photo was taken in 1914, George (Sr), a paper mill worker, was 35 years old, daughter Viola 14, Fern 10, George (Jr) 8 and little Esther 4.